The time has come to see the Management’s change in culture towards empathy and humanity. Being aware of the efforts of all the ACEO members in this direction, I am optimistic that it is set to be a good year!
2022 was a difficult year that unfortunately maximized insecurity across the planet. The three dominant issues throughout this year were the geopolitical instability caused by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and the rise in the rates of inflation.
Of course, in this increasingly challenging environment, the climate crisis is still the greatest challenge facing humanity as it leads to more climate variability and more frequent and increasingly extreme weather phenomena worldwide. At ACEO, we have pointed out the necessity of a shift towards more environment-friendly practices worldwide, so that we can effectively deal with this great threat to humanity and its future.
After having made this introduction on today’s most serious and difficult issues, I will continue my address having high hopes this new year and focusing on the issues that make me feel cautiously optimistic, both internationally and for our country.
First of all, at the international level there are daily scientific, medical and technological achievements that show that we move forward and that, united, we can shape the solution to global issues. That is the global lesson to be learnt that is taught by the health crisis due to the pandemic and this experience is gradually transformed into knowledge.
As stated by Hans Rosling in his book “Factfulness”, we cannot understand the world without numbers, without figures. Personally, I think that the fact that Greece is included for the first time in the list of the ten most attractive countries for investment in Europe is a very good reason to be optimistic by the fact that there will be a sustainable growth path, the investment opportunities and the political stability will continue despite the fact that 2023 will be an election year.
I am also very optimistic about the improvement of the country’s innovation index and the role that Greece can play as a startup incubator. As ACEO, in 2022, we signed a relevant Memorandum of Cooperation with “Elevate Greece”, as we firmly believe that, as experienced executives of large companies, we can contribute to making the country more competitive and a place where good ideas could thrive. After all, you are very well aware of all the work we have put into this issue over the years and what we have actually done over the years in order to highlight the importance of the demographic issue that is linked to the brain drain.
But, as regards this year, I could not go without mentioning the human factor; not only without mentioning the need to support the weaker sections of society but also the role that entrepreneurship could play in inspiring workers and citizens. Besides the everyday challenges faced by the average citizen of the country, there are also the work challenges, the main one being the Great Resignation, which has created intense mobility in our own market as well.
So, while the Public Sector is constantly modernizing, constantly keeping up to date and renewing itself, as demonstrated by the “Bridges for Cooperation” Meeting, held in Fall 2022, the time has come to see the Management’s change in culture towards empathy and humanity. Being aware of the efforts of all the ACEO members in this direction, I am optimistic that it is set to be a good year!
